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Out-Of-Hospital Births: A Small But Growing Phenomenon In High Income Countries: A Viewpoint, Céline Miani, Stephanie Batram-Zantvoort, Emma Pitchforth, Bethan Treadgold, Krista Johnston, Virginie Rozée, Christiana Macdougall, Clemence Schantz, Edwin Van Teijlingen

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Hip Healthy Swaddling: A Commentary, Mehreen Aslam

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Swaddling, the practice of covering babies to align the legs, prevent hip movement, carries a risk of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH).Correct swaddling techniques, emphasizing hip flexibility, mitigate risks and are promoted globally. Cultural shifts, as seen in Turkey and Japan, reflect awareness of swaddling's impact on hip health. In certain cultures, 90% of mothers swaddle infants for comfort, predominantly to keep legs straight, but traditional swaddling contributes to hip dysplasia risk, contrasting with the recommended technique allowing free limb movement. Proper education on swaddling is crucial, aligning with health benefits and reducing DDH occurrences. Recommendations include routine hip …

Strengthening The Integration Of Midwifery In Health Systems; A Leader-To-Leader Collaboration, Erlandsson K, Borneskog C, Pedersen C, Ternström E, Byrskog U, Tamang L, Niraula G, Mehra D, Mehra S, Sharma S, Lindgren H

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Barriers and facilitators for quality midwifery care exist on different levels in the health systems. After decades of challenges and varied degrees of success, a stakeholder leader-to-leader collaboration could provide added value through knowledge sharing on how to integrate the midwifery cadre into an existing health system. Initiated by The Midwifery Society of Nepal, Dalarna University Sweden and MAMTA - Health Institute for Mother and Child India, a research network focusing midwifery has been formed. The background, purpose and activities of this network has been described in this News and Events paper.

An Unaddressed Role Of Nurses: Barriers In Promoting Reproductive Health In Pakistan: A Commentary Paper, Rabab Vadivala, Arisha Amin, Sahar Jessani, Sara Hudani

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Reproductive health has a significant impact on a person’s overall wellbeing. Despite this, it is not given major attention. Many people are still unaware of the importance of reproductive health, and one reason for this is the often-overlooked role of nurses in sexual and reproductive health. Nurses, midwives and lady health visitors are the healthcare professionals that play a pivotal role in promoting reproductive health. However, due to several factors, such as burnout among nurses and a lack of educational preparedness, this role of nurses remains unaddressed. This article discusses the general determinants that contribute to the underutilization of nurses …

Harvesting Health: Indigenous Mothers’ Resilience In The Face Of Climate Change And Maternal Nutrition Challenges In Rural Bajaur, Pakistan: A Study Protocol, Ihsan Ullah, Rafat Jan, Dilshad Begum, Kiran Mubeen, Laila Amir Ali Lalji

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Swot Analysis Of Community Midwifery Program In Pakistan, Bakhtawar Muhammad Hanif Khowaja, Anam Feroz, Farina Abrejo, Sarah Saleem

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

The community midwifery program was launched in 2006 by the Government of Pakistan as a major initiative to provide skill birth attendance to women living in rural areas of Pakistan. The main purpose of the program is to extend maternal and newborn services to the communities, through the selection and training of community midwives (CMWs) from rural areas, and to deliver services to their local communities. However, there is a substantial difference between the number of CMWs trained and those working at their birthing stations. Therefore, this paper uses a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to evaluate the different …

Midwives’ Associations’ Dual Role In Supporting Members And Driving The Profession Forward: A Qualitative Interview Study From Bangladesh, Mosammat Ratna Mon, Most Nargis Parvin, Joy Kemp, Sharmin Shobnum Joya, Christina Pedersen, Ulrika Byrskog, Kerstin Erlandsson

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Professional midwives are being introduced as a long-term solution to improve maternal and newborn health in Bangladesh and to contribute to Universal Health Coverage. Professional midwives’ associations are a core element of a strong midwifery profession according to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). The Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS) was formed in 2010 to advocate for the introduction of professional midwifery in Bangladesh. Since 2017 BMS has benefitted from an international twinning partnership with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) UK and has undergone significant organizational development.

Objective: The study aimed to describe the experiences, knowledge and attitudes of …

Editorial: Midwifery 2021 In A World In Turmoil, Rafat Jan, Edwin Van Teijlingen

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Addressing Violence Against Women Within The Midwifery Curriculum In Bangladesh: A Focus Group Discussion Inquiry, Shahanaz Parveen, Noormahal Akter, Mauluda Zahan, Kerstin Erlandsson, Ulrika Byrskog

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Critical Social Determinants Of Childbirth Outcomes In Remote Mountains: Voices Of Women From Nepal, Sabitra Kaphle, Lareen Newman

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Objectives: Despite efforts made by the Government of Nepal to reduce maternal and newborn mortality nationally, the rate is still significantly higher in remote mountain areas. This research aimed to fill a gap by asking women about socio-cultural factors influencing childbirth outcomes in remote mountain areas of Nepal.
Methods: This study used a qualitative approach guided by the principles of social constructionist and feminist critical theories to derive factors influencing women’s experiences of giving birth and childbirth outcomes. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 pregnant and postnatal women. A thematic approach was used for data analysis.
Results: Childbirth outcomes in …

Developing And Piloting A Midwifery Audit Tool In Bangladesh’S Upazila Health Complexes (Uhcs), Achiya Khatun, Mahfuja Aktar Jhumu, Sarah Gregson, Joy Kemp

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Midwifery is a new profession in Bangladesh. Diploma-prepared midwives were first deployed in 2018. Recent studies suggest that newly qualified midwives in Bangladesh may not be able to fully perform their midwifery role due to a number of complex factors. This paper describes a pilot study of a midwifery audit undertaken in 2019 by the Bangladesh Midwifery Society, supported by the Royal College of Midwives. These two organisations are in a formal twinning partnership funded by UNFPA Bangladesh with support from UK-Aid, Sweden and Canada. The audit was successful in improving the quality of midwifery care and addressing health system …

Health Care Provider’S Perspectives On The Content And Structure Of A Culturally Tailored Antenatal Care Programme To Expectant Parents And Family Members In Nepal, Annika Ekström, Laxmi Tamang, Christina Pedersen, Ulrika Byrskog, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Kerstin Erlandsson

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: In Nepal childbirth is one of the most vulnerable periods of a woman's life and knowledge about the normal birth process, as well as danger signs, could be a life-saving intervention. Antenatal care programmes are therefore particularly relevant in Nepal where women deliver on their own in rural areas as well as in facility and hospital settings.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the relevant content and structure of a culturally tailored antenatal care programme in Nepal to be developed from the input of healthcare providers.

Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 26 health care providers were analyzed using Elo …

Can Cmws Sustain Quality Services And High Coverage As Private Providers In Chitral? A Three-Year Prospective Qualitative Study, Rafat Jan, Arusa Lakhani, Salma Rattani, Laila Lalji, Kiran Mubeen, Mehtab Q. Jaffer

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: The maternal and neonatal mortality ratesof Chitral district of Pakistan are among the highest in the country. One of the factors that found to havepositive impact on maternal and newborn health indicators is the availability ofquality skill birth attendance because the majority of the poor women cannot access facility-based maternity care. Therefore, in 2006, the Government of Pakistan (GOP) has initiated a program to train and deploy Community Midwives (CMWs) to support safe pregnancies and births. The Aga Khan Health Service’ Pakistan, initiated the Chitral Child Survival Program (CCSP) in partnership with the National Maternal Neonatal and Child Health …

Male Involvement In Family Planning Among Squatter Settlement Residents Of Karachi, Fahmida Khowaja, Mehak Pervaiz, Naushaba Khatoon

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Worldwide, the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) increased from 54.8% to 63.3%. However, Pakistan’s current CPR is estimated to be 35%. Men can play an important role in increasing CPR by providing support to their partners, yet their role has been overlooked in targeted reproductive health strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and practices of married men regarding Family Planning (FP).
Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 419 married men, residing in an urban squatter settlement of Karachi. Participants were selected through non-probability convenience sampling and a structured questionnaire was used to …

Cultural Assessment: A Study Of Midwives’ Knowledge, Attitude And Self-Reported Practice In Uganda, Mercy Muwema, Karen Drake, Pamela Friesen, Grace Edwards

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Cultural assessment is critical due to the increased movement and resettlement of people across the globe, and diverse cultural groups in Uganda. This is putting the health care delivery systems serving the communities under pressure to recognize the different attitudes of people towards health and to develop care systems that are effective in meeting diverse needs. However, despite the importance of cultural assessment in nursing literature, little is known about the cultural assessment competence of Ugandan midwives. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of midwives in this assessment process.

Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used to …

Effect Of Psychological Distress On The Emerging Cause Of Infertility, Faiza Kausar

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Infertility is a growing issue of the recent era, and it represents significant crises for most couples. Psychological distress has often been suggested as a cause of unexplained infertility. Male infertility accounts for 40% of all infertility problems, while female infertility accounts for 40% of all infertility problems; others are unexplained. Previous studies have indicated that stress and depression negatively impact various infertility parameters in both partners. To determine the relationship between infertility and psychological distress and the level of different types of stress among infertile couples, and to relate the significant stressors responsible for worsening infertility or …

The Politics Of Abortion And Maternal Health: A Discussion Paper, Ihsan Ullah, Ayaz Ayub, Edwin Van Teijlingen

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Abortion should be legally allowed for women because it can save mothers from childbirth-related complications and death. Legal abortion is one of the safest methods to terminate a pregnancy when there is a risk to the mother’s health by childbirth or severe deformity of the fetus or it is unwanted. Unfortunately, approximately half of all abortions worldwide mostly in nations where abortion is severely restricted and are performed in dangerous settings. These risky abortions are a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and disability. Limiting a woman's access to an abortion does not stop abortion; rather, it just encourages more risky …

Gender Inequalities And Childbearing: A Qualitative Study Of Two Maternity Units In Nepal, Lesley Milne, Jillian C M Ireland Ms, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Vanora Hundley, Padam P. Simkhada

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

The role and status of women in South Asian countries like Nepal are widely recognised to be lower than that of men. This gender inequality can be found throughout all levels of society. Our study is about the influence of gender on pregnancy and childbirth, which are very much in the female domain in South Asia, both at home and in health facilities.
A mixed-method, qualitative research study was undertaken in two birthing facilities in Kathmandu Valley to examine barriers to women accessing these services from the perspective of hospital staff. Thematic analysis identified seven subthemes related to gender, namely: …

Determinants Of Inadequate Provision And Utilization Of Post Abortion Care Services In Pakistan, Marina Baig, Kiran Mubeen

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Access to safe abortion services remain a challenge in many low and middle income countries like Pakistan. Evidence suggests that Pakistan shares a huge burden of abortion related morbidities and mortalities. Timely provision of Post Abortion Care (PAC) services could assist in preventing maternal deaths associated with unsafe abortions. However, there are certain socio-cultural, financial and political factors that restricts the provision and utilization of effective PAC services. This paper explores these determinants and suggest recommendations for policy and practice to promote PAC services in Pakistan.

Jam – Winter 2018, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Developments In Midwifery In Asia In 2017, Rafat Jan, Edwin Van Teijlingen

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Fears Of Pakistani Primi Gravidas About Childbirth, Zohra Kurji, Amina Aijaz Khowaja, Zahra Shaheen, Yasmin Mithani, Naveeda Haq

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Childbirth can be a very painful experience as it brings a lot of physiological and psychological changes in women’s lives. The literature demonstrates that anxiety and fear during the birthing process is related to a woman’s ability to give birth safely; fear can lead to complications such as emergency caesarean section and a reduced ability to tolerate pain. Therefore, health care professionals need to explore fears and educate expectant mothers, most especially primi gravidas, about the birthing process.
Method: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used to investigate fears about childbirth. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a …

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices Of Mid-Level Providers Regarding Post Abortion Care In Sindh, Pakistan, Marina Baig, Rafat Jan, Arusa Lakhani, Sadia Abbas Ali, Kiran Mubeen, Shahnaz Shahid Ali, Farzana Adnan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: In Pakistan, half of all pregnancies are unintended (4.2 million per year); out of which 2.2 million end in induced abortions. Almost 700,000 women seek medical treatment for post abortion complications every year. This necessitates access to quality Post-Abortion Care (PAC) services from skilled providers in Pakistan.
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of Mid-Level Providers (MLPs) regarding PAC services in Sindh, Pakistan.
Method: The study utilized a cross-sectional design. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 116 MLPs, including Nurse Midwives (NM), Lady Health Visitors (LHVs), and Community Midwives (CMWs) from different parts …

The Historical Development Of The Midwifery Profession In Bangladesh, Malin Bogren, Farida Begum, Kerstin Erlandsson

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights have been identified as the core areas of practice, theory and research for the midwifery profession. The midwifery profession, as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives Global Standards, is new in Bangladesh. This paper aims to give an overview of the historical process that has taken place in the past decades to develop the midwifery profession in Bangladesh. The professional development of midwives is the result of many years of collaboration and relationship building among stakeholders such as the government, non-government organizations, academia, professional associations, United Nations agencies, and donors. All are working …

The Uptake Of Skilled Birth Attendants’ Services In Rural Nepal: A Qualitative Study, Yuba Raj Baral, Jo Skinner, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Karen Lyons

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Aim and objective: The general aim of this research was to explore why women do or do not want to uptake Skilled Birth Attendants’ (SBAs) services during childbirth. The objective was to explore the factors affecting the uptake of SBAs’ services during childbirth in rural Nepal.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Setting: The fieldwork was conducted in a rural area, in a western hill district of Nepal.
Participants: Interviews were conducted with 24 married women aged 18-49, who had given birth during the three years prior to the time of interview. Sixteen women …

Adolescent Pregnancies: The Case Of Pakistan, Kiran Mubeen, Marina Baig

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Early motherhood not only causes poor health outcomes, but often also deprives adolescent girls of educational, social, and economic development opportunities for the rest of their lives. Evidence suggests that although the burden of adolescent pregnancies is less in Pakistan than in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal, the pregnancy outcomes continue to be devastating in this country. This paper discusses the social barriers in addressing this issue in Pakistan and proposes recommendations for targeted interventions to reduce the high birth rate amongst adolescents in the country. The role of midwives asfrontlinegatekeepers can be pivotal for prevention ofteenagedpregnancies in Pakistan. Unfortunately, the …

Misconceptions And Mismanagement Of Menstruation Among Adolescents Girls Who Do Not Attend School In Pakistan, Naghma Rizvi, Tazeen Saeed Ali

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Menstruation is perceived and interpreted differently under different social and cultural norms. There are a number of different practices, conceptions and misconceptions that have been reported in studies conducted in various countries. In Pakistan, there is a dearth of knowledge related to hygienic and unhygienic practices, discomforts, misconceptions related to nutrition, and restrictions imposed during menstruation. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objectives to identify the conceptions and misconceptions about menstruation, explore hygienic and unhygienic practices during menstruation along with the socio- cultural and religious restrictions imposed, and the discomforts with its management among adolescents who do not …

Editorial - Jam June 2016, Rafat Jan, Edwin Van Teijlingen

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

News & Events

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Birthing Centres In Nepal: Recent Developments, Obstacles And Opportunities, Preeti K. Mahato, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Padam Simkhada, Catherine Angell

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Establishing and promoting birthing centers (BCs) can be one strategy to increase access to emergency obstetric care and skilled attendants at birth, to avert many maternal deaths. BCs are a component of local health service delivery, whereby midwives (or health care professionals with midwifery competencies) provide maternity services to generally healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies, mostly in the community setting.
Methods: A literature review was carried out involving searches and appraisals of relevant literature on birthing centers in Nepal, South Asia, and other similar settings.
Findings//Conclusion: In Nepal, midwife-led care in BCs was found to be …